Classical / Byzantine / medieval

Research

There
is a very active community of researchers. Undergraduates and MAs are encouraged
to join current (and often former) PhDs at the regular meetings of the Medieval
Work-in-Progress Seminars (10-12 times per year), which attract
distinguished scholars in London and beyond. Classicists, Byzantinists and
Medievalists at the Courtauld are also active at other research seminars
throughout London, such as those which take place in the nearby Institute
of Classical Studies and Warburg
Institute. Public lectures with acclaimed visiting speakers
are regularly organised, and The Courtauld organises and hosts colloquia
and large-scale conferences in connection with events such as exhibitions.

MA dissertation titles

MA students write their dissertations either on material arising
directly from their course or, with their supervisors approval, on
any other viable topic. The best dissertations achieve publishable standard
in leading journals. A number of those published have won prizes.

Titles or fields of research
(MPhil and PhD) of current students

With the range of interests and expertise of the staff, and the
availability of research resources in London, research students are encouraged
to undertake pioneering work in a range of areas of art history. The large
number of active research students in the classical/ byzantine/ medieval
area creates a supportive and stimulating environment. Doctoral students
run their own discussion group, and also organise an annual one-day symposium
(link to call for papers), which welcomes papers by research students from
other institutions. Towards the end of their course, they are given the
opportunity to present their research to their peers within The Courtaulds
wider research community, at the postgraduate symposium which takes place
each year.

Recently completed PhDs

Photographic resources for research

The Courtauld is fortunate to possess truly exceptional photographic
resources for research. The Conway Library, named after its founder, Sir
Martin Conway, has been enriched systematically by photographic expeditions,
purchase and exchange, and is especially strong in the classical, byzantine
and medieval areas. While the classical architecture collection is especially
important and includes the original illustrations for A.W Lawrence's standard
work, Greek Architecture, Medieval (including Byzantine) architecture,
mural painting and mosaic, manuscript illumination, metalwork, sculpture,
and stained glass, also form special collections. For manuscripts alone
there are about 100,000 mounts. The photographs themselves are in some cases
of historic importance (e.g. near-eastern material by Robert Byron, T.E.
Lawrence).

The Garrison Collection, formed by the noted scholar of medieval Italian
art, preserves Garrison's notes and files (on matters such as liturgy and
hagiology) as well as the photographs amassed for research purposes. The
updated Garrison
Index on CDrom is available for purchase, and a database on the manuscripts
can be consulted in-house.

The Slide Collection, although primarily geared to the requirements of teaching,
is extensive, and contains research material including the Hawkins and Winfield
archives of photographs taken, for the most part, during conservation campaigns
(mostly Byzantine mosaics and wall-paintings).